February Meeting
The February meeting is going to be held on the 12th at 7pm at Life Fitness Management in LaVale, MD. This is going to be a hybrid annual meeting to meet our by-laws. Feel free to stop by and catch up on whats been buzzing in the world of local beekeeping!
While registering your hives in your state may not be required, some states require it if you are crossing state lines, selling NUCS/Packages or are going to want an inspection.
Registration For Maryland State Beekeepers
Registration For Pennsylvania State Beekeepers
Registration For West Virginia State Beekeepers
Come On Out
January 10th 2019
Attend the next meeting at the LaVale Library on January 10th, 2020.
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Topic: How to make fondant for feeding your bees.
General feeding in the winter months and spring feeding
What are you feeding? Bring in your recipes.
Break: Drinks and Snacks
Question and Answer session at end of topic.
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Note: 2020 dues of $8.00 is due. Mail or pay at meeting.
2019 Elected Officers
President: Ben Cooper
Vice President: Brittany Llewellyn
Secretary: Mike Burkett
2019 Officers were voted on at the November banquet dinner.
Quick Winter Feed
Fondant is simply a creamy sugar paste used in candy and as an icing. Sugar and water are heated to a high temperature and then whipped into a paste. You can find lots of recipes in beekeeping books and at beekeeping websites. Most are similar: sugar, water and a bit of vinegar. Combine the ingredients, stir while heating, bring to a boil and then heat just under 240*. Care will have to be taken that the mixture doesn't overcook.
Recipe:
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5 Pounds (12 Cups) granulated white cane sugar.
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3 cups water
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1 teaspoon white vinegar
Combine the ingredients and heat, constantly stirring until sugar completely dissolves. Heat without stirring until the temperature reaches 236*. Be patient, it takes awhile. Remove from the heat and allow the liquid to cool to about 200*. Whip with a wire whisk until the liquid becomes opaque. BE CAREFUL! A burn from molten sugar wins you a guaranteed trip to the burn center. Pour or ladle the liquid into wax paper lined molds and allow to cool. I lightly grease the bottom of the molds with crisco to facilitate removal. I use 9" cake pans for molds and make the blocks approximately 3/4. Store the candy blocks in plastic storage bags in the freezer. Allow them to warm inside the bag an hour before feeding. Place them on the top bars, wax paper side up over the cluster. The wax paper will help hold moisture from the hive and soften the candy. A shallow super, wood rim baggie feeder or Imirie Shim provides enough head space for the candy block or blocks, or you can turn the inner cover over, set the telescoping cover on and weigh it down with a rock. With luck, the candy blocks will still be in your freezer this spring. You won't have needed them.
Homemade Honey Bee Healthy
Ingredients:
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5 cups of water
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2 1/2 pounds of sugar
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1/8 teaspoon lecithin granules (used as an emulsifier)
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15 drops spearmint oil
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15 drops lemongrass oil
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Instructions:
Bring the water to a boil and integrate the sugar until dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the mixture from the heat and quickly add the lecithin and the essential oils. Stir until everything is evenly distributed. This solution should have a strong scent and not be left open around bees. Cool before using.
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Any members wishing to have their contact information posted on the website please email it to the site editor. This is a good way for people to find someone to come get swarms/bee removals.
Meetings:
The second Friday of every month! Our next meeting will bee:
Date: January 10th, 2019
Time: 7pm LaVale Library
815 National Hwy, La Vale, MD 21502
Meeting Agenda for January Meeting:
Topic: Winter Feedings